2023-06-08 17:10:03
Slowly but surely, Rishi Sunak is making his mark in Washington. On the second day of his visit to the United States, he meets President Joe Biden in the Oval Office this Thursday, June 8. Since his arrival at the head of the government in October 2022, the British Prime Minister has spared no effort to warm up the so-called “special” relationship between the two countries.
Liaisons undermined by his two predecessors, Boris Johnson (closer to the Republican Donald Trump than to the Democratic president), and the ephemeral Liz Truss. The two men have already seen each other four times since last March, on the sidelines of international summits, or to launch a major military collaboration with Australia (victims) so as to counter China’s ambitions.
A strong message about Ukraine
Among the priority subjects mentioned, Ukraine. The situation on the ground and the military aid to be provided to Kiev will be the focus of discussions on Thursday, ahead of the summit of the Western Defense Alliance, which will hold its annual summit next month in Vilnius (Lithuania) and during which Westerners will want to send a strong message about Ukraine. Washington appreciates theimportant commitment from London to President Zelensky.
NATO will also be discussed. Rishi Sunak wants to push the candidacy of his defense minister, Ben Wallace, at the head of the Organization after the departure next October of the current secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, unless the latter is reappointed. Ben Wallace is in competition with the Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, whose name circulates to eventually become the first woman to lead NATO. She has already been received by Joe Biden in Washington on Monday June 5.
Free trade agreement still pending
The British Prime Minister should take advantage of the good understanding with the American President to affirm his ambitions in terms of artificial intelligence regulation (IA), a field still fallow, even if the United States and the European Union are already discussing it. Rishi Sunak thus announced from Washington the holding in London of the first world summit on AI, next fall.
If there is one subject that Rishi Sunak would like to advance, but always seems to be stalling, it is on the commercial relationship with America. He has given up on quickly achieving what has long been a key post-Brexit goal for the UK, namely to sign a free trade agreement with the United States. The case is still pending. Joe Biden having repeatedly linked the file to the political situation currently blocked in Northern Ireland, because of Brexit.
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